Grade 7 – Unit 4 Outcomes and Study Guide 2015
• classify minerals based on their physical properties
- define mineral
- list and describe properties of minerals, including:
(i) colour
(ii) streak
(iii) lustre
(iv) hardness
(v) cleavage
(vi) fracture
• classify rocks based on their characteristics and method of formation
- define rock
- define igneous rock and describe their formation
- differentiate between magma and lava
- differentiate between intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks using examples, including:
(i) granite (intrusive) magma
(ii) basalt (extrusive) lava
- define sedimentary rocks and describe their formation
- list and show examples of sedimentary rocks, including:
(i) shale (small particles)
(ii) sandstone (medium particles)
(iii) conglomerate (large particles)
(iv) limestone (plant and animal particles)
- define metamorphic rock
- describe the formation of metamorphic rocks
- list examples of metamorphic rocks and their parent rock, including:
(i) slate from shale
(ii) marble from limestone
(iii) quartzite from sandstone
(iv) gneiss from granite
• identify questions to investigate arising from the study of the rock cycle
- sketch and label a diagram of the rock cycle
- recognize the relationship between various types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic)
• describe the characteristics of Earth’s crust and some of the technologies which have allowed
scientists to study geological features in and on the Earth’s crust
- sketch and label a model of Earth’s layered interior, including:
(i) inner core
(ii) outer core
(iii) mantle
(iv) crust
- describe the composition of each layer
- recognize that Earth’s crust is broken into plates and movement occurs where plate margins meet
(plate tectonics)
• describe how plate tectonic theory has evolved in light of new geological evidence
- identify Alfred Wegener as the person responsible for proposing the continental drift theory
- describe the continental drift theory and the evidence supporting it, including evidence from:
(i) continental fit (paleogeographic)
(ii) fossils (biological)
(iii) rock layers (geological)
(iv) climate (meteorological)
- identify the technological advances that have provided evidence to support the current theory of plate
tectonics, including:
(i) sonar
(ii) magnetometers
(iii) deep sea drilling
- identify types of plate boundaries, including:
(i) divergent (pulling apart)
(ii) convergent (pushing together)
(iii) transform (sliding past)
- identify convection currents in the Earth as a possible explanation of the driving force mechanism
behind plate tectonics
• examine some of the catastrophic events that occur on or near Earth’s surface, including:
(i) earthquakes
(ii) volcanic eruptions
- define earthquake
- explain why earthquakes occur using the concept of plate tectonics
- define volcano
- identify how and where volcanoes form. Include
(i) areas where plates converge
(ii) areas where plates diverge
(iii) areas where plates are thin (hot spots)
• explain the processes of mountain formation
- define folding and faulting
- explain how mountains are formed using the theory of plate tectonics, including:
(i) folding
(ii) faulting
(iii) volcanic eruption
- describe the geologic time scale in terms of the four main eras and the major events that occurred in
each, including:
(i) Precambrian era – formation of the Earth and appearance of simple life forms
(ii) Paleozoic era – appearance of more complex life forms
(iii) Mesozoic era – appearance and extinction of dinosaurs
(iv) Cenozoic era – appearance of humans